From Necessitous Refugees to Menacing Migrants : The Syrian Refugees and their depiction in the Media from September 2015 to January 2016

Abstract: This research touches upon the influence of media on both society and politics on the sensitive issue that is the refugee crisis Europe is subject to at the time of writing. By the means of newspaper and alternative media content analysis, the thesis will attempt to create a framework intended to rationalize the development of sentiment towards refugees as well as determine and investigate the internal mechanics of the phenomenon. By virtue of an Internet- mining tool called TalkWalker, 941 articles in a total of six dominant German, British and French newspapers as well as alternative media content granted a glimpse into the general opinion and semantic field on the subject of the Syrian refugee crisis. After having established a gradual aversion throughout the set timeframe by way of a shift in the language on the subject, theories regarding media power, media framing, risk, cosmopolitanism, liquidity, identity, agonistics, narrativity, etc. allowed a foundation that, along with previous research on similar instances, will hopefully elevate the findings into a more theoretical realm. In like manner, it has been found that the deteriorating terminology regarding refugees and the progressive alienation of the latter resulted in a shift to the right of the political spectrum, suggesting the presence of a form of media power. Surprisingly, the set of data did not seem to exhibit a counterbalance from the alternative media, albeit traditionally portrayed as left-penchant. Finally, the thesis will conclude with a synthesis of the overall assessment and emphasize on the importance of terminology. For it seems that depending on referring to the refugees as ‘refugees’ or ‘migrant’, a predominant ill-founded amalgamation, will greatly affect their justified right for asylum.